The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-05-28

stars-Andromeda's Wonder.
The appearance of new star in the
midst of the great nebula in Andromeda
offers fitting opportunity to say few
words on stars of similar character
which have from time to time blazed
forth in the heavens. Although the APP
pearance of q new star is unquestion-
ably a marvellous event, the existence
of stars whose light varies is we'll
known astronomical fact. Patient OBJ
servation of the heavens during many
centuries has shown that there are hum
dreds Of such stars; and every year is
adding new members to the already
lengthy list. The great difference be-
tween variable and temporary stars is.
that in the case of the former their
period and maximum and minimum
brightness are known. In other words,
continued observation reveals the fact
that an ordinary variable star changes
from greatest brilliancy to least bril-
liancy in certain definite time, differ
ent for different stars, and attains and
fades to, though it may be with slight
irregularities, certain definite maxi
mum and minimum brightness. 1t is
therefore possible, after these points
have been determined, to predict with
tolerable success the conduct of the star
during longer or shorter period. ac-
cording to the accuracy of the observa-
tons. There are, it is true, variable
stars which display the most remarkable
eccentricity. The most wonderful OBJ
ject Of this class is star in the southern
heavens situated in the Keyhole nebula,
and known as Eta Argus. To give full
particulars of this star would occupy too
much space; suffice it to say, that from
being comparatively faint object,
it gradually increased in splendor, till.
after passing through numerous strange
fluctuations, it outshone Campus, and
was surpassed only by Sirius. It re-
manned thus brilliant for some time;
but at length faded away till it was lost
to almost all eyes, and now shines as a
star barely visible to the unaided vision.
Stars of this class form, doubtless, q
kind Of bridge between the more regu-
larly variable stars and those which
suddenly blaze forth in the heavens.
In looking back over the history Of
temporary stars, we are struck first
with the rarity of their appearance, and
next with the very meager accounts of
them which have come down to us.
Though there are said to be frequent
references in the Chinese annals to the
appearance of these objects, the first
historically recorded account of such an
event occurred in the year 125 B. c.
We may infer, without much risk of
error, that Princes and potentates, with
Enthusiastically undue sense of their
own Importance, looked upon this OBJ
ject as blazing forth some event in their
own petty career. 1t had, luckily, a
more useful and lasting effect, for Hip
parchus, an astronomer of the school of
Alexandria, was led by its appearance
to construct the first recorded catalogue
of the stars. Over and above this fact,
we know little or nothing of it; and
doubtless had it not come down to us
associated with the name Of Hipparchus,
its memory would long since have sunk
into oblivion. The next star which
blazed forth in the heavens was seen in
the year $50 A. D., and was situated
near the brightest star in the constella-
ton of the Eagle. We know nothing
of il, further than that for three weeks
Il remained as brilliant as Venus, and
then gradually faded away till it be-
came quite invisible.
But the two most remarkable of these
temporary stars appeared in compar-
; atively modern times. and have been
described to us by the two celebrated
astronomers, Tycho Brahe and Kepler.
No stars Of equal brilliancy have ap-
peared since. and in looking back on
them, the student Of astronomy can not
but regret that the means of observa-
ton were at that time SO meager that
we have only the bare account of their
varying brilliancy and the time they
remained visible. The former of these
stars appeared in the constellation Of
Cassiopeia in the year 1872. Tycho, in
describing its apparition, tells us that
on the night Of the 18th Of November.
in returning from his laboratory to his
dwelling house, he found number Of
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